Zhennan Eucommia

Zhennan Eucommia

　　The cultivation of Eucommia in Zhennan County has a history of several hundred years. Historical records indicate that during the Tang Dynasty, when the Bodhi Temple was built and landscaped about 25 li northeast of the county town, Eucommia trees were already planted. Originally a wild plant, once people recognized its medicinal value and growth habits, they began transplanting it from mountainous and wild areas to courtyards and field edges, where it was managed. Eucommia is propagated by seeds, but due to the scarcity of female fruit-bearing trees, severe alternate-year bearing, and premature harvesting, the growth of Eucommia was hindered, resulting in low yields and a persistent supply shortage. According to a 1983 forestry resource survey, the county had only 260,000 Eucommia plants (or clumps), producing just 10,000 kilograms of Eucommia annually. Since the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee, development efforts have intensified. By 1995, the number of plants had grown to over 16 million; production increased from 10,000 kilograms to over 900,000 kilograms, and annual output value surged from just over 80,000 yuan to more than 30 million yuan today. The county has become the top Eucommia-producing region in Henan Province and ranks among the top six Eucommia-producing counties nationwide.